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Zenith	By : Shapooda Category: Bleach > General Views: 3686 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Nakama
--- xxx ---

Zangetsu woke before the sun was up, trading places with Ichigo so the other could grab a bite for breakfast, careful not to stick around to avoid questions. He pretended not to notice the looks Urahara was giving him, the ex-captain letting him know he would have a suppressor prototype that evening, and that was that.

Today was Friday, so once he felt Yuzu and Karin head to school, he stopped hovering around the house and finally stopped by the clinic.

Knocking felt stupid, but barging in felt wrong too. He'd been gone for so long, this place was just a distant memory. He couldn't even remember the feel of his bed, and he almost didn't want to. He didn't fit in this life anymore, even the thought of the monotony and routine of school made him restless. It took a long time to accept, but he loved the challenge of battle, and fuck him, but Aizen was right; Now that he was at the top, he finally understood true loneliness, but from a perspective Aizen would never understand.

In the end, he settled for flaring his reiatsu, just a little, in invitation. He didn’t mean to trample on his feelings, but he couldn’t face him otherwise. His body didn’t feel right, it wasn’t him, he needed to see his father face to face. He stood on the roof of a nearby house, trying not to fidget. He was nervous, he didn't know what to expect.

In a shimmer of shunpo, his father was before him, just as he remembered him. He wore the remnants of his captains haori, Engetsu at his side, and he wondered if this was the first time since his powers returned that he showed himself as a shinigami.

Once they got over the shock, their expressions were a mirror of each other's; Sadness, regret, fear. Ichigo knew why those emotions were there, but he could see the confusion dawning on his father’s face. His expression softened, a small grin lighting his face. “What’s with that pathetic expression, oyaji?”

That broke Isshin from his thoughts, an exaggerated scowl on his face. “PSH! What’s with that hair? You some kind of punk now?”

Ichigo quirked an irritated smirk. “What’s that goat-face?! You wanna fight!”

Isshin moved, coming at him with his signature spinning kick, one Ichigo caught with one hand. He jumped back, a wide smile on his face. “Looks like you turned out strong after all.”

The shift in the mood was abrupt, but he could feel the pride in his father’s voice. His chest felt tight. “Oyaji…”

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” He looked away, his eyes focusing somewhere out of sight. “After the secrets I’ve kept from you, I feel like a hypocrite asking…”

“You did what you had to do, I don’t blame you...I guess I actually understand now.” Ichigo hadn’t even thought about what he would tell him. “There are some things I couldn’t keep secret if I tried.”

He sat, because this was going to be a long talk. His father took the hint and joined him, sitting and waiting in silence. The focus and attention he spared him made him a bit uneasy, he wasn’t expecting it.

He started to explain, leading with what he told Urahara and Yoruichi. He told him he was from the future, he told him about Aizen, about the Hogyoku, about his rescue of Rukia, even about Hueco Mundo, and his reiatsu, explaining what he’d felt when his reiatsu disappeared the night before. He couldn’t bring himself to tell him in the future his father was dead, that he’d failed Yuzu and Karin. He told him as much as he dared, but he left out the details, he didn’t even know where to start.

He finally lapsed into silence, watching his father carefully, anxiously.

“The future, huh?” Isshin looked off to the East, towards Yuzu and Karin’s school. He could feel them, even from here, just like he knew his father could. “Was it that bad?”

Ichigo didn’t answer, he couldn’t, but he knew that his father had guessed what had happened. He wasn’t a puzzle, he was simple in his goals. His friends and his family were everything. Without them…

“I’ll be here to protect your sisters. You do what you need to do.” Ichigo wasn’t expecting him to say that, staring back at him with determination. His dad was still his dad.

Ichigo looked away, feeling guilty. “I...was selfish.” His dad didn’t say anything, so he kept talking. “I didn’t use Mugetsu, Aizen got away.” He hadn’t been able to tell him before, but he’d feel like a coward if he didn’t.

He didn’t look at him, he couldn’t, not until he said his name. He said it with the force of a parent, he couldn’t ignore that. “Ichigo...Don’t blame yourself for what Aizen did. I don’t know what the future was like, but you have a second chance.” He smiled gently. “Don’t dwell on the past. Future?” He laughed quietly. “You know what I mean.”

He knew it was foolish to expect his father to berate him for his mistakes, but he hadn’t expected to feel so much better after talking to him. “Ahh...thanks, oyaji.” He wasn’t one to linger in sadness, he didn’t let the mood stay somber. “Urahara is working on figuring out how to help me stay in my body. Tell Yuzu and Karin I’ll see them soon.”

“I’ll make sure they don’t worry.” He gave him a reassuring smile and stood, prompting Ichigo to stand. “Come home, Ichigo.”

He smiled back at him. “Yeah, I’ll be back.” He lifted a hand in a half wave, then disappeared in a soft boom of sonido.

That talk had taken longer than he’d thought, it was already early noon.

“What about Uryū?”

Ichigo had been avoiding that thought, wondering what he should do. He didn’t want his friend to lose his powers, but if he didn’t, he might not ever get stronger. He needed that artifact from Soul Society, and from what his friend had told him, Nemu had given it to him, and that only happened because he fought against Mayuri. “I won’t do anything for now. Actually, this feels like something he would do, doesn’t it? Sneaking around, not telling anyone what I’m doing.” He’d be so proud. That thought held some heavy sarcasm.

He knew the quincy had skipped school, and he knew him far better than the Ichigo of the past, so sensing his reiatsu was simple, especially when he already knew his favorite place to train. He shunpo’d most of the way, then stopped to walk, approaching cautiously. Ishida in this time was less of a friend and more of a begrudging ally.

He gave Ishida more than enough time to see he wasn’t a threat, stepping from the trees with a carefree wave. “Yo, Ishida.”

Ishida had his bow drawn and leveled at him, suspicion in his eyes. “Who are you, Shinigami?”

He still spat the word like a curse, but Ichigo couldn’t blame him. “Isn’t that obvious?”

“Your reiatsu is different. The Kurosaki I know doesn’t have two swords, and his reiatsu might be monstrous, but it’s nothing like this.” His arms raised, threatening to shoot. Kurosaki had to admit it took balls to face someone you knew was stronger, he was proud of his friend.

“I’m Ichigo all right, just a few years removed. I’m from the future, Ishida.”

He didn’t look convinced, nor did he lower his bow. “You think I’m stupid, shinigami?”

“No, you’re anything but stupid Ishida, which is why I’m telling you the truth.” He wondered what he could do to make him believe him, but he didn’t know where to start. “You know, I never actually told you this; in the past, actually, tomorrow, in this timeline, I was training with Urahara in a process called Encroachment to get my shinigami powers back. My inner world was crumbling, I was going to become a hollow. I was about to die for real...I had to find my own power, the power that had hidden itself deep in my soul when Byakuya severed my soul sleep. I thought about you, I remembered what you said about reiryoku, about how you knew what I was. I’d used it before, but I didn’t know what I was doing, and I never thought to look for my own ribbon. I found my powers, and in a roundabout way, you sort of saved my life. I never thanked you for that.”

Ishida’s bow loosened, but he didn’t lower it. “Your reiatsu…”

“Feels hollow-like? Yeah. I got my powers back, but I was already hollowfying, I was a little too late. My shinigami and hollow power is one in the same.” It was a half truth, but he didn’t want Ishida to know about his Quincy blood. Not yet.

He crossed his arms, making it even clearer he didn’t intend to fight. “Any other questions?”

Ishida let his bow dissolve, seemingly comfortable with the distance between them. “Why come back in time?”

Ichigo’s expression grew somber, not wanting to lie to Ishida. He’d always been there to back him up, he was arguably the strongest of his close friends, and he deserved the whole truth, even if he was too much of a coward to give it to Chad and Inuoe. “I didn’t intend to. You were all killed, I missed you. For reasons I’m sure you understand, I can’t tell you how it was possible, but you’ll know soon.” Ishida said nothing, and when the silence stretched, Ichigo continued. “It’s strange. This is my past, my life, but I feel like an outsider.”

“Kuro...saki.”

Ichigo continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “You and I came to be good friends, you know?” He hoped that still happened, Ishida had been a good friend, he’d always tried to help him stay good. People thought he was cold, but that was the opposite of the man he knew. “Any other questions?”

“You’re not going to tell me what’s going to happen?”

Ichigo smiled ruefully. “You know I can’t do that. I just wanted you to hear it from me. I’m strong enough to save Rukia on my own, but I want you to come anyway.”

Ishida pushed up his glasses, brows furrowed. “Of course I’m going, I have to pay those shinigami back for attacking me.”

Ichigo smirked. “Yeah, yeah. Can I count on you?”

“Don’t ask stupid questions, Kurosaki.”

He turned to leave, but paused, remembering something. “Oh yeah, if you stop sensing my reiatsu, I’m not dead, don’t get too excited. I’ll see ya in a few days, Ishida.” He was gone in a boom of sonido before Ishida could say anything else. He wanted to help his friend train, but he didn’t want to disrupt events any more than he already had.

Technically, he could bypass Urahara all together and just go to the Rukongai through a garganta, but that would mean tripping Mayuri’s sensors in a way that would change the timeline even more. Sure, he was confident he could take on multiple captains, especially as they were now, but he needed them to be present for Aizen’s betrayal, and if Aizen knew a garganta opened in Soul Society without his orders he’d be on him like frost in a snowstorm.

It soured his stomach to know he was just going to be sitting on his hands while Aizen slaughtered the Central 46, while he toyed with Hinamori, but he couldn’t take the risk. If he had Ishida’s or Orihime’s soft heart, he might not have been able to do it.

He took some time to clear his head, waiting for school to let out, then went to go find Inuoe and Chad, because they deserved to know the truth, especially when they were going to be putting their lives on the line. He knew Yoruichi had already spoken to his friends; they knew the situation with Rukia, and they knew he was going to go after her.

He found them in the industrial district in a half-built factory. Even with his pitiful skills, it was easy to find the reiatsu of the people he cared about.

He shunpo’d to the window, dropping inside. Yoruichi seemed to be expecting him, because the cat just flicked an ear, acknowledging him. Chad didn’t outwardly react to his presence, but Inuoe did, her eyes widening. “Kurosaki-kun! Your hair is long...you’re tall!” She lifted her hands to her mouth, like she was surprised the words had slipped out. “You’re okay!”

“Of course I’m okay, Inuoe. I need to talk to you both.”

Chad spoke up first, to his surprise. “You have two swords now...does this have something to do with the way your reiatsu has been different?”

Ichigo was surprised he’d noticed the change in his reiatsu, but then Chad had always been more perceptive than people expected. He was just disappointed in himself for falling into the same trap. “Something like that.”

He sighed, getting into this for the fourth time. He’d hoped it would be easily, but it still felt weird. “I’m from the future. That sounds like bullshit, but it’s true. I don’t want you to worry, I’m still mostly the same.” Mostly. He was more ruthless, he didn’t stop to try to talk people down from the ledge anymore. If they faced him, they usually died, it’s how things were. He wasn’t sure if his friends would approve. Ishida hadn’t.

Inuoe hesitated before she answered, “You’re from the future? Like a sci-fi movie?” She crossed the distance to him, stopping only when she was inches away from his face. Ichigo tensed under the scrutiny, uncertain how to deal with it. “You do look older….you seem different.”

Chad hadn’t moved, seemingly unphased by this. “You’re still Ichigo.”

“Ah.”

Chad tilted his head in a subtle nod, having heard enough. Inuoe frowned, taking a step back to give Ichigo his space again. “Why? How?”

Ichigo shook his head, they would learn about things eventually, but he didn’t want knowledge of the future to color their actions. “That’s not important, just know that I can’t go back,” nor did he want to, “so for now, just get stronger. I know you want to come with me to Soul Society, I know Rukia is important to you too.”

He gave her an easy smile, shifting it to Chad. “Try not to worry.” He hopped back to the window and waved. “Work hard, I’ll see you soon.” And then he was gone.

It felt a bit cowardly to just end the conversation before it could even start, but he had a whole set of excuses a mile long. He went back to Urahara’s shop, directed by Tessai to the underground room.

He dropped down into the room, seeing Kisuke sitting on a rock not far from the ladder. “Ah, Kurosaki-san! How did it go?”

“It went well, actually.” He looked down at the small, belt-like hoop on the rock. “What’s that?”

Kisuke grinned. “A suppressor. I tried to make a bracelet, but it was too small to hold the Kidou I needed to use, so I upgraded it to a headband of justice!” He mimed equipping it. “It even has an activation phrase!”

He scowled. “No way in hell am I wearing that fucking headband again.”

Kisuke beamed. “I made you one before?”

“You have a one track mind, don’t you?” Ichigo crossed his arms. “I’m not wearing that.”

Kisuke stood and stepped down from the rock, the red, belt-like loop unclasping. “Aren’t you at least going to try it?”

He’d been hoping for something smaller, like Kenpachi’s eyepatch, but then, his reiatsu was a lot more than Kenpachi’s. “I ain’t sayin’ some activation phrase. Can I wear it around my neck instead?” He remembered the suppressor Rukia had been forced to wear.

Kisuke held it out to him and raised his brows. “I didn’t think you’d like that either.”

He scoffed, “I won’t, but it’s better than a stupid headband. I’ll survive.” He lifted it up to his neck, deciding this must work like the headband he’d made him to train with Ururu before. It connected automatically, tightening on it’s own. It wasn’t form-fitting like a choker, but his instincts still rebelled at something so close to his throat. He could feel Zangetsu’s growling disapproval in his mind.

The drain hit him like a wall, making him stagger forward. He flexed his reiatsu on reflex, Zangetsu-no-ossan dropping his chokehold on his power. His power doubled, but the collar swept it back as soon as he did. He let out a shaky breath and stopped panicking; this is what it was suppose to do.

He slowly let his reiatsu rise, and the collar kept pace, stifling his power the more he let out. He let his reiatsu stop at around double a captain’s, Urahara tensing under the pressure on his shoulders.

Urahara urged. “Keep going. We need to know if it will break.”

Ichigo watched him for any sign he should stop, not really wanting a Kidou powered bomb going off on his neck. He’d probably be fine, but it would still be unpleasant. He let his power rise, both of them sweating, but for different reasons. He was going slow, he saw Kisuke struggle to stand, his knees hitting the ground. He urged, “Keep going.” He did, slowly, just to be safe.

Abruptly, Kisuke fell forward, catching himself on his hands/ He was breathing hard now that the pressure was finally lifted. Ichigo felt like he’d been pushing on a wall, one that had suddenly disappeared. He gasped, finding the lack of resistance to be just as awkward as Kisuke had. He lifted his hand to the collar, finding it to be physically intact, but he was no Kidou master. “It’s still in one piece, yeah?”

Kisuke straightened, dusting himself off. “I didn’t feel the Kidou shatter. I’d say it held.”

Ichigo grinned. “Well, that was unpleasant.”

“If I didn’t have this whole room layered with reiatsu dampeners, that might have been trouble, Kursosaki-san.” He readjusted his hat, and let out a breath. “Ready to push it back down?”

“Give me a bit. I can finally breathe.” He felt a lot better, lighter, faster, stronger. Normal. “Did you figure out how to get me back in my body?”

Kisuke grinned back at him. “Patience, Kurosaki-san. I’m beginning to think you don’t appreciate my efforts.” There was no real insult in his tone, if anything, it seemed the challenge was wholly welcomed.

Ichigo’s smile softened. “People expect a lot from a genius, from people who are strong.” He was speaking from experience. There had been a lot of expectations heaped onto his shoulders when he was young, something he knew those around him felt guilty over, but he’d grown use to it. He couldn’t let them down. He didn’t linger on that thought, changing the subject yet again. “Now how about helping me sort out my reiatsu?”

“It would be easier to help if you were more forthcoming.”

Ichigo raised his brows. “Ah, but you know about okaasan, didn’t you make that gigai for her?”

Kisuke laughed. “You really do know everything. And here I thought you were holding out on me.”

“I inherited her quincy powers, it’s making me a bit more unstable now that they’re as active as my shinigami powers.”

Kisuke whistled, spinning his cane. “That you can balance them at all is a feat. I can’t even give you shit for not having them managed, I’m surprised you’re doing as well as you are.”

Ichigo shrugged. “I needed to manage them to win, so I learned how.”

“Stubborn as I expected, Kurosaki-san.” He drew his Zanpakutou, dropping the sheath, and slipped into shikai. “I’ll assume that means you still learn on the fly. I’m not sure how much of a threat I am to you, but it’s worth a shot.”

Ichigo drew his swords, a smile spreading across his face. He was more than a little eager for this. “I’d be a fool if I didn’t see you as a threat, geta-boshi.”

Urahara might not match him in terms of raw destructive power, but he had a feeling Kisuke could kill him if he put his mind to it. The only reason he failed against Aizen was because the Hogyoku was stronger than he ever imagined it could be. The man was a genius, and he’d missed him terribly. He was his first real teacher, the first person to really understand what he’d needed in order to improve.

Kisuke circled him lazily, his expression shifting to something more serious. “Now let’s see if I can apply enough pressure to make you improve.”

Ichigo waited for Urahara to make the first move, stopping his first strike with his trench knife. His smirked, reminiscent of Zangetsu’s manic smile. He was aiming to kill, that was good.

He swung his khyber shaped blade toward his throat, forcing down on the trench knife to push Urahara’s stance low. Kisuke twisted free in time to block his attack, their swords clashing and throwing sparks. He struck again with the trench knife, whirling in a dance of battle he relished.

They avoided shunpo, settling for pure Zanjutsu. Both were masters in their own right, Ichigo relying more on instinct, while Kisuke had pure, practiced talent. If there was anyone who would be able to force him to allocate his power more efficiently, it was Kisuke.

--- xxx ---

The days slipped by, Ichigo training with Kisuke and practicing keeping his reiatsu lowered with the suppressor, and Ishida, Chad, and Inuoe training on their own. Kisuke didn’t come up with a solution to getting him back in his body, Ichigo arguing fighting was more important if it was going to take time anyways.

Their ten days spent, he spent an hour in his body just to re-establish a connection, saying goodbye to Yuzu and Karin. He’d taken the time to try to accept they were still alive, but when he saw them, he still choked up. He even gave Karin a hug, much to her embarrassment and Yuzu’s delight. He exchanged some parting words with his father, then returned to Urahara’s shop in time to go through the Senkaimon.

He was already waiting in the underground training grounds when the three showed up. Four, counting Yoruichi. Orihime gushed about how impressive the room was, while Tessai cried in joy. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. Or at least, according to his past.

Urahara pushed him out of his body, the cane punching through his forehead. He caught himself and set his body down, waiting for Urahara to give the speech he already knew. His friends didn’t, so he could be patient. Urahara snapped his fingers, revealing the makeshift Senkaimon he’d constructed.

He listened as he explained the Reishihenkanki and their four minute time limit. It would only take about a second if he could shunpo, but his friends couldn’t, and he couldn’t carry them all. He raised his hand and said, “Oy. The cleaner’s gonna be in there, we should go if we want to outrun it.”

Kisuke’s eyes widened, nodding to Tessai, and they set up the connection with the final steps of Kidou. “Go, right when it opens.”

The gateway flared white, and the group lunged for the opening. They ran through the Dangai, a place Ichigo unfortunately knew all too well. He put a hand on Ishida’s back, urging him to go in front of him to avoid the cape debacle. He wouldn’t let it be said he didn’t care about his friends.

They ran, just a few feet ahead of the cleaner this time. Inuoe didn’t need to use Shun Shun Rikka. He wasn’t going to risk letting her die for something so stupid. He wouldn’t stop her from fighting, but the Dangai was something else entirely.

They were shot out of the gate, Ichigo catching himself and Orohime before they hit the ground. He set her on her feet, awkwardly taking a step back. “Ah, sorry Inuoe.” He blushed, she blushed, and he deflected by barking at Ishida. “You gonna lay there all day, glasses?”

Ishida jumped to his feet, fixing his glasses with a blush. “I-I was just surprised, that’s all!”

Chad got up, and his friends finally looked around, familiarizing themselves with the Rukongai. Yoruichi explained where they were, and what was in front of them. Ichigo smirked, “Time to knock on the front door.” Yoruichi looked surprised, but said nothing, trusting his judgement.

He strolled up to the gates, more than a little confident. Technically, the shields of Soul Society were calibrated for a certain kind of reiatsu. He could get in all on his lonesome if he wanted, but then his friends would be left high and dry, and that was no good.

The gate fell from the sky, crashing down in a rather slow, cascading wall. He supposed to the usual ryoka they had to deal with, this was quite enough of a defense. Ichigo waited, hands at his sides, for Jidanbo to appear.

As per the future he knew, the giant showed himself from the clearing dust, massive axes in hand. He felt bad about breaking them the first time, but he needed him to open the gate, he needed to face Gin. That was the part he worried about most. He knew Gin was only semi-compliant with Aizen, but he was a sharp bastard, he thought he might see through him. What he’d do with that information though, he could only imagine.

Jidanbo’s voice boomed. “It’s been awhile since someone tried to pass through Seirei Gate without a travel permit. You’re a rare guest. Welcome, kozu.”

Ichigo murmured, “It has been a while.”

Jidanbo smashed his axe on the ground beside him. He didn’t flinch. “Come at me, kozu!”

He heard Yoruichi explaining away the guardian’s accolades to his friends, and just like before, they hardly mattered. Before his friends could get involved, he called out to them. “Hey, can you all do me a favor and stay put?” He smirked. “I’ve got this.” He gave Chad and Inoue a thumbs up, then turned back to Jidanbo. “And you, you’re my host, how’s about you make the first move?”

“Draw your sword, kozu!”

“Don’t need it.” He’d stopped Aizen’s sword with his bare hands, even with his spirit pressure smothered, he could handle Jidanbo.

“You’ll pay for that arrogance!” He raised his axe above his head, hearing the shocked exclamations of his friends. He felt bad about that, but Jidanbo was no threat. He was a good guy, just doing his job.

He said, “Not arrogance.” Jidanbo brought his axe down, the air displacing around the force of his blow, but Ichigo was unconcerned. He backhanded the blade before it could reach him, shattering it, and stepped to the side. “Confidence.” He frowned slightly. “Don’t make me break both.”

Jidanbo lifted the handle of his sword in disbelief. “Tha-that’s not possible.” He drew his other axe, confusion and rage crossing his face. Ichigo sighed. The axe came at him from the side, so slow, he almost felt bad for the giant. He moved rather slowly himself, but he knew it was too fast for Jidanbo to follow. He was perched on the blade of the axe, which was now above Jidanbos head with his follow through.

He couldn’t knock him unconscious, then he wouldn’t open the gate, he had to break them, even if it felt undeserved. The first time had been an accident, he hadn’t known his own strength, but this time he did. He struck the axe he was crouched on, shattering it as well. The pieces clattered to the cobblestones. He landed lightly, brows furrowed. “I’m sorry, Jidanbo…” He really was, he wasn’t acting.

He could feel the disbelief from his friends, though Ishida’s eyes on his back felt calculating more than awed. He heard the quincy speak up behind him. “Kurosaki...what’d he just do?” He knew the quincy was trying and failing to gauge his strength. The suppressor made sure of that.

The giant stared in shock at his destroyed Zanpakuto. He empathized, he really did. He’d been on the receiving end more than once, it didn’t feel good. “Oy...say something.”

The giant started crying, all of them wincing in pain at the sheer volume of noise. Ichigo grimaced, he felt like a bully that kicked over some kid’s sandcastle. “Ah, ah, stop crying, I’m sorry I broke them both, they really were impressive…”

Jidanbo finally looked at him, sniffling. “You and I are enemies, but you’re concerned about me, a loser.” He braced himself, stiffening when he dropped those giant hands on his shoulders. “What a big heart, you really are great.”

He still felt bad, trying to remember what it was he’d said. “Well, you were crying, wouldn’t anyone want to console someone like that?”

Jidanbo straightened, pulling himself together. “What kind of a man am I, crying over broken axes? It’s been 300 years since I became the guardian of the White Road Gate, and in all that time, I never lost once. You’re the first man to defeat me.” He still had tears in his eyes, and Ichigo crossed his fingers that he would open the gate.

“I, Jidanbo, grant your permission to enter through the White Road Gate!”

And there it was. He smiled. “Ah, thanks, Jidanbo.”

Inuoe spoke up. “You’ll really let us pass?”

“I lost to your leader, so it’s only right, isn’t it?”

Ishida fumed, “Kurosaki, isn’t our leader!”

Jidanbo questioned, “Your name is Kurosaki?”

Ichigo scowled at Ishida, then answered Jidanbo. “Ah. Kurosaki Ichigo.”

“Ichigo, huh? That’s a cute name.”

Ichigo couldn’t let that slide, he almost forgot about that. He frowned. “Ichi means “one”, and go means “protect”! That ain’t cute!”

Jidanbo only smiled. “Take care, Ichigo. I don’t know why you’re passing through this gate, but on the other side, they’re all strong.”

Ichigo remembered his past response, and found it ironic that it would actually be accurate now. “I know.”

Jidanbo looked amused. “So long as you know.” He crouched, fingers displacing the dirt to reach under the base of the gate. “Stand back, I’ll open the gate.” He heaved, muscles straining, and slowly straightened, revealing Seireitei on the other side. The streets were spotless, unlike the cobbles outside the gate, the buildings and roofs gleaming. Ichigo didn’t have to wonder why Seireitei was despised, it was obvious.

His friends expressed their awe, and he didn’t blame them, Jidanbo really was strong, lifting that gate was no small task. He could destroy it, sure, but lift it? No way.

He stepped forward, aware of what was about to happen. He saw Ichimaru pacing towards them, that fuckin’ smirk on his face. Jidanbo told him what he already knew, shaking in fear. “I-it’s the captain of the third squad! Ichimaru Gin.”

The captain stopped short of the gate. “Ah, this isn’t good.” Almost faster than Ichigo could follow, Gin released his sword and extended his wakizashi, slicing Jidanbo’s arm clean off. I’m sorry, Jidanbo. He cried out, “Jidanbo!” The giant groaned in pain, catching the gate on his shoulders before it could fall. “Let it go Jidanbo, it’s fine.” He had a lot of heart, he felt bad knowing this could have been avoided, but he was consoled by the fact that Inoue could heal him.

Gin straightened from his stance. “Unacceptable. A guardian isn’t suppos’ ta open the gates.” Ichimaru stepped forward, that snake-like grin widening. “When a gatekeeper loses...it means death.”

Ichigo stepped in, sword drawn, and as expected, Gin blocked him. Both of them were holding back significantly, it was almost pathetic. “Oy! What kind of guy attacks someone unarmed?”

Gin jumped back and smirked. “You’re not afraid of me? What a weird kid.”

Yoruichi called out. “Ichigo, stand down!”

“So you’re Kurosaki Ichigo?” He started to walk away, and Ichigo drew his sword, knowing what was coming next. “All the more reason why I can’t let ya pass.” He turned, falling into a stance. “Ikorose, Shinsō.” Ichigo raised his sword to block the extended wakisashi, allowing himself to be thrown back into Jidanbo. It didn’t hurt, but he hoped Gin didn’t notice how little it affected him.

He was flung back, the gate slamming back down, but not before Gin waved goodbye. He grit his teeth. He might be on their side, but he was still a slimy bastard.

He got up and gestured to Jidanbo. “Inuoe! Heal him, please.” It wasn’t an order, more like a frantic request. He knew time didn’t matter, but Jindanbo stood up for them, he was a friend now.

She lifted her fingertips to her hairpieces, not hesitating. “Shun Shun Rikka! I reject!” The oval glow of her healing power enveloped Jidanbo and his severed arm, her power making quick word of the injury.

He gave her a small smile. “That’s the Inuoe I remember.” She blushed, but concentrated on her work, not hesitating or ceasing until Jidanbo was in one piece.

As before, the Rukongai people finally came out to meet them. He almost forgot about Shibata, but Chad deserved some closure, and he still needed to wait to meet Ganju and the Shiba’s. Seemed the threat had passed for the moment. They were in the Rukongai, they were in Soul Society. Things would only be more difficult from here.
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Zenith